Quantcast

The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Hot Dog Eating Champ Gobbles Record-Breaking 70 Franks in 10 Minutes

By Noah Hurowitz | July 4, 2016 2:17pm | Updated on July 4, 2016 4:48pm
 Thousands of fans flocked to Coney Island on July 4, 2016 to celebrate Independence Day and see Joey Chestnut regain the championship spot at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Coney Island July Fourth
View Full Caption

CONEY ISLAND — Buoyed by cheers from an adoring crowd, Joey "Jaws" Chestnut gulped his way back to glory by downing a record-breaking 70 hot dogs and buns under the scorching sun on Monday.

"Joey! Joey!" the crowd screamed as Chestnut shoved the last frank into his mouth before the 10-minute annual Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island came to a stomach-churning close.

"The audience loved me, and I love being able to push myself for them," said Chestnut, 32, of California, who briefly lost his first-place standing last year after being bested by Matt Stonie.

This year, Stonie only gobbled 53 franks — as Chestnut left him in the dust as he roared back into the lead.

At last week's qualifying event, Chestnut ate 73 dogs and buns — a world record — organizers said.

"By all that is holy, I've never seen Chestnut eat like this," said Major League Eating co-founder George Shea, "Joey Chestnut is America."

In the women's competition, the No. 1 women's eating champ Miki Sudo, of Las Vegas, bested the competition by downing 38 dogs.